Category: Theater reviews

“Fairy Tale Christmas” is, perhaps, one of the most creative productions to ever grace a Southern Utah stage. That’s saying a lot for a region that is home to both Tuacahn Center for the Arts and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. It’s even more impressive because Tuacahn’s current production of “Fairy Tale Christmas” is a world premiere. This is the first…

Well, color me plaid. And color me surprised. I really enjoyed “Plaid Tidings” at Brigham’s Playhouse on Saturday night. Typically, I try to refrain from first-person subjectivity in my theater reviews, but I wanted to admit up front that I wasn’t interested in seeing “Plaid Tidings.” Honestly, I’m not sure why, but the basic plot of the musical and its…

It’s the cult Christmas movie. It has become a holiday classic on par with “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The lead character is absolutely iconic — a child of myth and legend. This all makes any production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” a high bar to meet. But who better to helm a holiday musical based on a beloved cult classic…

There’s a certain charm to Brigham’s Playhouse. Part of it is the Washington City theater’s atmosphere, from the quaintly picturesque exterior to the intimate stage and audience area. Part of it is the focus on desserts and how the cast of each production helps sell the treats before the show and during intermission. Then there are the productions themselves, many…

Before I get to my review of the Kayenta Arts Foundation’s production of “[title of show]” I hope you’ll allow me a few paragraphs (or 12) to editorialize on the subject of art and obscenity. If you don’t want to read my diatribe, scroll on down to “Finally, the review!” I’ve tried to write my previous theater reviews on this…

Timing and blocking are important to almost any play but with Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off” they are absolutely essential. Thankfully, director Trent Cox handles both with an expert touch in St. George Musical Theater’s current production of the play. In the program’s director’s notes, Cox calls “Noises Off” both a “monster” and a “living jigsaw puzzle.” He’s right on both…

Yes, “Jekyll & Hyde” is an excellent choice for the Halloween season. If you’re going to put on a musical during the month of October it might as well be a monstrous musical about mayhem and murder — a dark and disastrous tale of dual identity. The Stage Door’s production of the show will continue through Oct. 21 at the…

The concept behind “The Tavern” is intriguing. It’s a dark and stormy night at a frontier tavern when a mysterious and enigmatic stranger appears under suspicious circumstances. And this particular tavern just happens to be located right here in Southern Utah. Thus begins the final major production of the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s 2017 season and a world premiere for this…